Speculation 8: Narration of Durr al-Manthur

Speculation 8: Narration of Durr al Manthur

The Shia have reproduced a narration from Tafsir al Durr al Manthur to prove the one daughter fallacy and have termed it as an open heavenly proof. The narrator of this narration is Farqad al Subkhi and Ibn Abi Hatim rahimahu Llah has recorded it.

Farqad al Subkhi says: “It was revealed to Nabi ‘Isa ‘alayh al Salam in the Injil that the final messenger’s lineage will be from one blessed wife who will bear one daughter and that daughter will bear two sons.”

This narration mentions the final messenger only having one daughter. This is an open heavenly proof.

Removing this Speculation

1. The scholars are fully aware that Tafsir al Durr al Manthur has every sort of narration, and generally the author does not comment on the authenticity of the narrations. ‘Allamah al Suyuti rahimahu Llah mentions the Muhaddith who has recorded it and the name of the narrator only and allows the readers to investigate the authenticity of the narration from the specific Muhaddith and narrator.

2. The narrator here is Farqad al Subkhi al Basri (ibn Yaqub). The ‘ulama’ have written the following about him, which depicts his unreliability and untrustworthiness.

Ibn Abi Hatim Razi rahimahu Llah says that Farqad al Subkhi is not a Muhaddith i.e. he has no status among the Muhaddithin. He narrates munkar^{^[1]} narrations which conflict well known narrations. He is weak in hadith.^{^[2]}
It is written in Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d that this person is weak, narrates munkar narrations and is not a Muhaddith.^{^[3]}
Ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani rahimahu Llah writes in Taqrib that Farqad is a weak narrator and makes many blunders.^{^[4]}
Tahdhib records that Farqad has no standing in hadith. He narrates munkar ahadith. He is not a proof in ahkam and sunan. He would deem mursal^{^[5]} narrations as marfu’^{^[6]} and mowquf^{^[7]} narrations as musnad^{^[8]} and would not be aware thereof. Therefore, it is erroneous to use him as a proof.^{^[9]}

According to the senior ‘ulama’ of this science including Ibn Abi Hatim, this narrator is weak, makes plenty mistakes, narrates munkar narrations and is totally unreliable. Thus, his narration cannot be used as a proof. It is imperative to furnish authentic narrations to prove something. Thus an authentic narration according to the Muhaddithin should be presented.

3. If for argument’s sake, we accept this narration to be authentic. The Arabic text of this narration is:

انما نسله من المباركة يعنى خديجة … لها ابنة يعنى فاطمة لها ابنان فيستشهدان يعنى الحسن و الحسين

His lineage will be from a blessed woman i.e. Khadijah who will have a daughter i.e. Fatimah who will bear two sons who will be martyred i.e. Hassan and Hussain.

After studying this text, it becomes apparent that the commentaries on the words “blessed woman, daughter and sons” are the words of a narrator. It is not part of the original narration.

Glad tidings are being given in this narration that the progeny of the final Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam will be from a blessed woman, who will have one such daughter that will bear two sons who will be martyred. The object here is only to mention the future lineage of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam not to reject his other wives nor the other children of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and not to prove the one daughter fallacy.

NEXT⇒ Speculation 9: No Mention in Friday Sermon

^{^[1]} Rejected

^{^[2]} Kitab al Jarh wa al Ta’dil vol. 3 pg. 81, 82 sec. 2 – Farqad al Subkhi

^{^[3]} Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d vol. 7 pg. 11 sec. 2 – Farqad ibn Yaqub al Subkhi

^{^[4]} Taqrib pg. 414 – Farqad ibn Yaqub

^{^[5]} A narration wherein a Tabi’i omits the link between himself and Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and narrates it directly from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , without mentioning who related it to him.

^{^[6]} The words of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam .

^{^[7]} The words of a Sahabi and not of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam .

^{^[8]} The chain of narrators goes directly to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam without a break in between.

^{^[9]} Tahdhib al Tahdhib vol. 8 pg. 263, 264 – Farqad ibn Yaqub

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents